Folding service tray for vehicles



N 27 1949 MY LlcHTEN 2,492,23

FOLDING SERVICE TRAY FOR VEHICLES Filed Nov. lO, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l UFV@ g f. E "M M/LTN L/CHTE/V A1/ BY diffu/*hey D99n 27, 1949 M. LI'CHTEN 2,492,230

FOLDING ASERVICE TRAY FOR VEHICLES File Nov. 10,' 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l N VEN TOR.

ML TUN [./CH TEN Patented Dec. 27, '1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,492,230 FOLDING SERVICE TRAY FOR VEHICLES Milton Lichten, Akron, Ohio Application November 10, 1947,

5 Claims. l

This invention relates to a service tray device. particularly for use in automobiles to Support refreshments such as are served at roadside stands.

Heretofore there have been provided tray devices which were temporarily attached to a vehicle in various ways, but these have been objectionable as often being necessarily attachable only at inconvenient heights or locations, and as requiring to be attached and removed at each time of use. Other known devices have been objectionable as being either too expensive to manufacture or too inconvenient to install or operate, or because of interference with normal use of the vehicle.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved service tray device for vehicles, which is quickly and easily attachable inconvenient position for use, utilizing the usual metal trim strips provided in vehicles, and without requiring special tools or -additional fastening means, such as screws.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, compact, service tray device of the character described which may be firmly attached in the vehicle to be a permanent accessory thereof, and which is easily foldable to an out of the way position when ticularly adapted to be neat and attractive in either the extended or the folded positions thereof.

These and other objects of the invention will be manifest from the following vbrief description and the accompanying drawings.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevational View of a closed or folded service tray device embodying the features of the invention, the same being partly broken away and in section and being illustrated in position for initial insertion under an interior trim strip of a vehicle.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device of Figure 1, but in open position with the tray extended. Y

Figure 3 is a cross-section partly broken away, taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the tray device attached to the interior door trim strip oi the vehicle, and illustrating the tray in open or extended position for use.

Figure 5 is a cross-section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

For convenience, the parts of the tray device are herein described and located with reference to the vehicle in which it is to be installed.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral Ill not in use, the device being par- Serial No. 784,972

. tively narrow tang or designates a relatively small, generally oblong tray, hingedly connected at one edge thereof to the bottom edge II of a normally vertical backing member I2, by means of an elongated hinge Vpin I3 received through intertting spaced lugs .f horizontal position of use thereof, as shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5. Both the tray and the backing member may be of molded synthetic plastic resin material, either opaque, transparent or translucent, and in attractive colors, or color combinations; or both parts may be of metal, wood, or other suitable material.

The tray Ill is shown as having upwardly projecting reinforcing ribs I6, I6 and I1 along the side and front edges thereof, respectively, as considered in said open position. For releasably locking the tray in the closed position of Figure 1, the front rib Il is engageable with a suitably angled, upwardly presented shoulder I8, integrally formed on the inner face of member I2, against the inherent resiliency of the material of the tray and member.

Curved sides I9, I9 of backing member I2 converge upwardly from the extreme ends of bottom edge portion II thereof, to provide a relatop portion '20, the inner face of which is chamfered or wedge-shaped at 2I to be readily forcibly insertable upwardly between the bottom edge 22 of a hollow, beadshaped, metal trim strip 23 of the usual passenger automobile, for example, and the inner surface of the usual fabric covered panel 24 thereof, until said edge portion 22 of the strip yieldingly engages snugly within a slot 25 firmly to clamp the device in place. The length of the slot 25, though short, is sufficient that snug engagement of the trim strip edge 22 therein will prevent tilting of the tray I0 when loaded with refreshments, for example.

The above-described clamping and non-tilting .support of the tray device will be substantially enhanced by the backing member I2 being molded or otherwise preformed vertically and inwardly arched or bowed, to have a concave side I2a against vehicle panel 24, as shown in Figure 1. Thus, when the tray device is urged to the fully portion 22 in slot 25, regardless of irregularities` in said edge portions along substantial lengths thereof. At least one additional Vlaterally extend-v ing slot 28 m'ay be provided in the backing member, in spaced relation to slot 25 and of an increased width, for receiving the bottom edge portion of a heavier trim-strip 23.

The upper face of the tray I6 may b-esuitably ribbed, as best shown at32, 32 in Figures 2 and further to reinforcezthetray, as well as to providevnoneskidfretaining; means, as for a drinking container (notshown.) at 3 and a sandwich not sho-wn):

InI usev of` 'the-tray. device described above, it is particularly adapted to beeconomically produced for quickattachmentf to any automobile or other vehicle.v havingtheusual hollow, bead-like trim strip, such as .thetrimrstrip 23 around the door window of the vehicle: No'` particular skill is required to vapply the:backing member i2 against the innerl face of i door panel' 2, and simultaneously `toaplllyvyielding attening pressure on the curvatermember and upward pressure thereon, fromathe. position thereof 'shownV in Figure 1 to the attachedY position shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5,'l until the trimstrip edge portion 22 is firmly engagedeither in slt25 or slot 26, against the yielding. pressurefof' the-,trim strip and the inherent tendency of theflattened backing member to resume normal curvate shape. In some instancesit mayrbe necessaryto spring the edge portion 22of the'strip 23 inwardly with a screwdriver or similar tool .to start the wedge-shaped portion` 20V toward itsy attached position, or to adjust. the tensionappliedto the backing member. TheU tray device thus attached, and arranged in the` open-position of Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5, will support, for example, the usual sandwich and beverage container, or other items, supplied at roadside refreshment stands. When the tray l0 isnot. thus in use it is quickly foldable tounobtrusive. closedposition, as shown in Figure 1, and'yieldingly retained in that position by locking engagement of rib I1 of tray I0 with shoulder l8-ofbackingrmember l 2.

Modicationsxof vthe invention may be resorted towithout: departing from the spirit thereof or the-scopel of `thefappended claims.

What-is claimedfis:

1. Aservice tray device for vehicles which are provided with a horizontally extending hollow trimv strip having a bottom edge portion turned outwardly toward an inner wall face of the vehicle and being of inherently resilient construction, said device -comprising a;vertical backing member andgiatrayextendinghorizontally therefrom, the upper end portion of said backing member being relatively thin and 1 wedge-shaped in vertical cross-sectior-r for ready reception thereof upwardly between said wall face and said bottom edge portion of the trim strip yieldingly against the inherent resiliency thereof, said backing member having on the inwardly presented side thereof adjacent said upper portion a downwardly presented shoulder for engagement by said bottom edge portion of the trim strip to support the member and tray against the inner wall face.

2. A service tray device: for vehicles provided withV aA longitudinally extending hollow trim strip having a bottom edge portion turned outwardly toward an inner wall face of the vehicle and being of inherently-resilient construction, said device comprising a vertical backing member, and a tray-hinged to the bottom edge thereof, said traybeingswingable about the hinge between a horizontally extended position and a folded. position against said backing member, interengageable stop portions being provided on said backing member-.andtray for retaining the tray in said `horizontally extended position; the upper end portion of .said backing `member being relatively thin and; wedge-shaped in vertical cross-section forl ready-reception thereof upwardly between saidwall face and'said bottom edge portion ofV the trimstripryieldingly against Vthe inherent resiliency, thereof, said backing member having an inwardly' presented groove therein adjacent saidy upper end portionfor vyielding receptiontherein koflthebottom edge'of said trim strip for` vertical supportof. the member.

3: A service tray devices-asset:forthinclaim 2, said tray and backing member having releasably interengageable latclr'ing portions thereon for retaining the tray in saidfolded position against the 1 backing'member.

4. A service trayv device asset forth in claim 2, said backing member being' of Pspringy material and inwardly verticallyarcuate to-be yieldingly flattened by pressure of said yielding engagement lwith the trim4 stript.

5. A service tray device asset forthv in claim 2, said backing: member beingV substantially the lateral width-:ofsaid'tray at the bottom thereof andl converging upwardly to relatively narrow width ofsaidnpper-end portion, saidA tray and backing member 'having interengageable latching portions-thereon-forretainingthe tray in said folded position against the member, said backing member'being of springy` material and-inwardly vertically arcuate to be yieldingly flattened by pressure of wedgingengagement with the trim strip.

MILTON LICHTEN.

REFERENCES CIT-ED The following references are of record inthe le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,152,677 Warren Sept. 7, 1915 1,308,066` Hayes July 1, 1919 1,571,753 Christian Feb. 2, 1926 1,630,889 Clark May 3l, 1927 1,836,511' Severns Dec. 15, 1931 2,050,951- I-IundertmarkY Aug. 11, 1936 2,207,667 Holly July 9, 1940 

